n the rest, who will soon come to terms, and agree to
pay any tribute I may demand," observed the rajah.

"But suppose, your highness, that the enemy were to evade us till they
can gather in sufficient force to afford them good hopes of success, how
do you then propose dealing with them?" asked Burnett.

"They will not dare to attack us," answered the rajah, stroking his
beard. "They are sure to run away as we advance."

Of this, however, Burnett, who had been making inquiries about the
character of the rebels from those who had been among them, was not so
certain. It seemed to him much more likely that, though armed only with
bows, arrows, swords, and spears, they would lie in ambush on the sides
of several narrow gorges through which the army had to pass, whence they
could take good aim with their unerring bows, and also send down large
fragments of rock on the heads of their invaders. He accordingly urged
the rajah to leave the women and baggage encamped in a secure position
outside the mountains, while the troops made their way through the more
difficult country.

"You Englishmen are always wise," observed the rajah, "and I will
seriously consider your advice."

The troops advanced, plundering their friends as if they had been
enemies, in their line of march. The fields were trodden down and their
produce carried off. The sugar-canes were looted by elephants and
camp-followers; the well-ropes stolen to serve as drag-ropes; and if any
of the country-people attempted to defend their property, they were
cruelly ill-treated. The force increased, too, as they advanced. The
horse-keepers' wives with their children joined them, not knowing where
else to go. Numbers of milk-women came in carrying the milk on their
heads to supply the men, and after the camp was pitched their voices
were heard crying out in all directions, "_doodh_." Dogs in vast
numbers, with or without owners, joined the camp, snarling and barking
all night long; while packs of jackals and hyaenas followed in their
track, commencing their hideous concert soon after sunset, and never
ceasing till near daylight, while they stole round the confines of the
camp to pick up any garbage they could find.

Frequently in the daytime an antelope or a hare would be started, when
horse and foot-soldiers and camp-followers would give chase, with the
pariah dogs of all sizes and colours dodging amid the carts, elephants,
and camels, frequently joined by so